“I found him to be always respectful to all people”, witness in MJ Akbar’s defamation case

The Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal today recorded the statements of two witnesses in the defamation case filed by former Union Minister MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani..The two witnesses – Sunil Gujral and Veenu Sandal – had worked with Akbar in the past..Gujral, who is Akbar’s neighbour in Kolkata and printer-publisher of Akbar’s Sunday Guardian, stated that Akbar was a “fine gentleman, hardworking professional and very well respected as a journalist and an author all over India.”.He further deposed that in his capacity as “a colleague and a friend” he never heard “any whisper regarding misconduct or misbehaviour of any kind” against Akbar..“I found him to be always respectful to all people both in society and working environment“, he said..Ramani’s tweets, he said, came as a shock and disturbed him. He further claimed that the tweets had done irreparable damage to Akbar’s reputation..“Besides this, my embarrassment was compounded as friends and acquaintances who know of my association with Akbar of almost 40 years started asking embarrassing questions which made me feel very bad since I felt that irreparable damage has been done to Akbar’s reputation in my estimation as well as in estimation of my friend circle and acquaintances.”.The second witness of the day, Veenu Sandal, a journalist who worked with the Asian Age and wrote columns for Covert and The Sunday Guardian, stated that Akbar was a scholarly author and an editor who transformed the face of Indian journalism..Since the witness knew tarot cards reading and astrology, her colleagues at Asian Age used to narrate their professional, personal and career issues and sought guidance. She informed the court that not one individual ever narrated or spoke or hinted at any misbehaviour by Akbar..“In his dealings with me, he has always been a complete professional and a person of high integrity“, she said..Sandal states that after reading Ramani’s tweets and articles, she was jolted..“It was really shocking and very disturbing that these allegations had been made and that he could do the things that Ramani has alleged.”.She said that after reading everything, Akbar’s image was tarnished in her eyes..“It was very shocking and painful to think that someone you had placed on a pedestal could allegedly fall so low.”.She also acknowledged that with other people talking about it and asking her questions, it was ‘greatly embarassing’..“…it was very obvious that not only in my eyes but also in others his reputation has been dragged through the mud and was in tatters.”.The Patiala House Court had taken cognizance of Akbar’s complaint and had summoned him to testify before the court last month..In his testimony before the ACMM, Akbar had described Ramani’s allegations as “fabricated non-events”..Akbar was represented by Senior Counsel Geeta Luthra and Advocate Sandeep Kapur of Karanjawala and Co..The matter will be heard next on January 11 when the court will record the statements of another three witnesses.